Adapter device

ABSTRACT

An adapter device is provided in which a variety of IC cards having different functions is receivable. The adapter device comprises a device body ( 21 ) having an IC card insertion slot ( 27 ) formed at a side thereof and a receptacle ( 46 ) formed contiguously to the IC card insertion slot ( 27 ) and into which an IC card ( 4 ) is to be set, a cover member ( 22 ) provided over one main side of the device body ( 21 ) slidably on the device body ( 21 ), an interface for data transfer between an IC card ( 4 ) set in the IC card receptacle ( 46 ) and a host apparatus ( 2 ) and a support member ( 23 ) to support the device body ( 21 ) by a hinge mechanism ( 81 ) at a side opposite to the IC card insertion slot ( 27 ) to be pivotable in relation to a surface on which the device body ( 21 ) is installed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an adapter device in which there can beset an IC card as a feature expansion module for an informationprocessing apparatus as a host apparatus.

This application claims the priority of the Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2002-231850 filed on Aug. 8, 2002, the entirety of which isincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, an information processing apparatus such as a personalcomputer or the like has connected to the connector thereof an adapterdevice in which a memory IC card used as an external storage unit can beset or the like as the case may be. The connection of the adapter deviceto the connector of the information processing apparatus is made by aUSB interface, for example. By operating the information processingapparatus, the user can play back content data such as video data, musicdata or the like stored in a storage unit in the information processingapparatus by storing the data into an IC card set in an adapter device,setting the IC card having the content data thus stored therein into aportable information processing apparatus and reading the content datafrom the IC card. The user can thus enjoy the content data anytime andanywhere.

In addition to the memory IC card used as an external storage unit,there is currently available a variety of such modules having differentfeatures. The IC cards are used as a feature expansion module for theinformation processing apparatus as a host apparatus. For example, theIC cards include an access management one which manages the access tothe information processing apparatus as a host apparatus by checking thefingerprint, as one of the biological features, of the user trying toaccess the information processing apparatus. Such IC cards havingdifferent features are unified in profile and interface except for theirunique-functional portions, and the adapter device has an IC cardreceptacle in which there can be set any one of a plurality of IC cardsof different functions. For example, the fingerprint recognition IC cardand memory IC card are similar in profile, outside dimensions, interfaceand the like to each other but they are partially different from eachother. Namely, the fingerprint recognition IC card has a fingerprintdetector provided on one main side thereof, while the memory IC card hasattached on the main side thereof a label on which its stored content iswritten down.

Since there is set any one of IC cards having different functions, theadapter device should be designed in profile etc. so that the IC cardset therein will not interfere with the operation of the adapter device.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has an object to overcome theabove-mentioned drawbacks of the related art by providing a novel andimproved adapter device.

The present invention has another object to provide an IC-card adapterdevice having a receptacle formed therein for IC cards of differentfunctions and which is designed for the operation thereof not to bedegraded by any of the IC cards set in the IC card receptacle.

The present invention has still another object to provide an IC-cardadapter device having an IC card receptacle formed therein and designedfor the user to easily identify the type of an IC card set in the ICcard receptacle.

The present invention has yet another object to provide an IC-cardadapter device having an IC card receptacle formed therein and which isdesigned to permit easy fingerprint recognition when a fingerprintrecognition IC card is set in the IC card receptacle.

The above object can be attained by providing an adapter deviceincluding according to the present invention:

a device body having an IC card insertion slot formed at a side thereofand a receptacle formed contiguously to the IC card insertion slot andinto which an IC card is set;

a cover member provided over one main side of the device body to openand close the main side; and

an interface for data transfer between an IC card set in the IC cardreceptacle and a host apparatus.

Also the above object can be attained by providing an adapter deviceincluding according to the present invention:

a device body having an IC card insertion slot formed at a side thereofand a receptacle formed contiguously to the IC card insertion slot andinto which an IC card is set;

a cover member provided over one main side of the device body slidablyon the device body;

an interface for data transfer between an IC card set in the IC cardreceptacle and a host apparatus; and

a support member to support the device body by a hinge mechanism at aside opposite to the IC card insertion slot to be pivotable in relationto a surface on which the device body is installed.

These objects and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the best mode for carrying out the present invention whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an information processing system inwhich the adapter device according to the present invention is used.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adapter device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the adapter device according to thepresent invention, with the cover member provided on the device bodybeing in a slid-out position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective vide of the adapter device, with the device bodybeing pivoted in relation to the support member so that the IC cardinsertion slot is directed upward.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the adapter device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connector member built in an IC cardreceptacle formed in the adapter device, with no IC card yet inserted inthe IC card receptacle.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the connector member, with an IC cardinserted in the IC card receptacle.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an ejecting member built in theconnector.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the ejecting member with no IC card yetinserted in the IC card receptacle.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the ejecting member with an IC cardinserted in the IC card receptacle.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the adapter device.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the adapter device.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an information processing apparatus andthe adapter device connected to the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an fingerprint recognition IC card.

FIG. 15 shows a flow of operations made in the information processingapparatus with the fingerprint recognition IC card being set in the ICcard receptacle.

FIG. 16 also shows a flow of operations made for fingerprintregistration and recognition in the fingerprint recognition IC card.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a memory IC card.

FIG. 18 shows a flow of operations made for data read or write from orto the memory IC card.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in detail below concerning theinformation processing system using the adapter device according to thepresent invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system, generallyindicated with a reference number 1, includes an information processor 2and an adapter device 3 for an IC card 4. The adapter device 2 is to beconnected to the information processor 2. The information processor 2 isa stationary or portable personal computer including a main unit 5having built therein a hard disk drive for storage of various programsand processing data, a ROM (read-only memory) having a control programand the like stored therein, a RAM (random access memory) to which aprogram and processing data are loaded and a CPU (central processingunit) 5 for controlling the entire system, an input operation unit 6having a keyboard, ten keys, device and the like connected to thecomputer main unit 5 to supply the latter with control signals, and adisplay unit 7 including a CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystaldisplay) or the like, connected to the computer main unit 5 to displaythe processing data or the like. The computer main unit 5, inputoperation unit 6 and display unit 7 are connected to one another bycable or air. More specifically, they are connected to one another by aninterface such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and ElectronicEngineers) 1394, USB (universal serial bus), RS (recommended standard)232 or the like. The computer main unit 5 and adapter device 3 areconnected to each other by cable or air, for example, by a USBinterface. Of course, the adapter device 3 may be connected to thecomputer main unit 5 by any other appropriate interface such as IEEE1394, IEEE 802 or the like.

The adapter device 3 connected to the computer main unit 5 has an ICcard 4 set therein. The IC card 4 is a fingerprint recognition IC cardor a memory IC card, for example. More specifically, the fingerprintrecognition IC card 4 includes a generally rectangular card body 11being a casing formed by molding a synthetic resin. The card body 11 hasbuilt therein a printed wiring board having mounted thereon afingerprint detection sensor and one or more semiconductor elements inwhich a control circuit and the like are formed. The card body 11 ischamfered at one front-end corner thereof (indicated with a referencenumber 12) for easy discrimination of a direction in which the user isto insert the IC card into an IC card receptacle in the adapter device3. At the rear end opposite to the chamfered front-end corner 12, thereis a concavity 12 a. The chamfered corner 12 and concavity 12 a providea position limiter for the IC card 4 going to be inserted into the ICcard receptacle in the adapter device 3. Also, the card body 11 hasprovided at the upper rear end thereof a fingerprint detector 13 towhich the user is to press the fingertip for detection of the user'sfingerprint. The card body 11 has formed at one short-side end thereof,namely, at the front lower side, a terminal block 14 including aplurality of contacts 16. The terminal block 14 extends from the frontend of the card body 11 at which the IC card 4 is first inserted intothe IC card receptacle of the adapter device 3 to the bottom. In theterminal block 14, each of the plurality of contacts 16 is provided onthe bottom surface of each of engagement concavities 15 defined bypartitions. That is, each contact 16 is protected because it is providedon the bottom of the engagement concavity 15. Also, the engagementconcavity 15 is open at the front end and bottom of the card body 11. Aconnecting terminal 47 provided at the adapter device 3 is to come intothe engagement concavity 15 as the IC card 4 is inserted into the ICcard receptacle. When each contact 16 is pressed to a correspondingconnecting terminal 47, they are electrically connected to each other.That is, the IC card 4 is electrically connected to the adapter device3.

Note that the IC card 4 set in the adapter device 3 as above may be amemory IC, an IC card with an image pickup device such as CCD(charge-coupled device), an IC card with GPS (global positioningsystem), an interface IC card for a radio communication such asBluetooth or the like in addition to the fingerprint detection IC.Namely, the function of the IC card is not limited to any special one.

The IC cards 4 that can be set in the IC card receptacle of the adapterdevice 3 include two types of which one is of a serial data transfertype and the other is of a parallel data transfer type. In both the twotypes of IC cards 4, the terminal block 14 includes ten contacts 16 asshown in FIGS. 14 and 17. In the parallel transfer type IC card 4, thefirst and tenth contacts are used as Vss contacts. They are connected toeach other and also to internal power lines, the second contact is a busstate (BS) signal contact for both serial transfer and paralleltransfer. The third contact is to have a first data line (DATA1) for theparallel transfer connected thereto. The fourth contact is to have adata line for the serial transfer and data line (DATA0) for the paralleltransfer connected thereto, the fifth contact is to have a second dataline (DATA2).for the parallel transfer connected thereto, and theseventh contact is to have a third data line (DATA3) for the paralleltransfer connected thereto. Further, the sixth contact is to beconnected to the intermediate point between the first and tenth contactsfor Vss to detect an IC card 4 set, a clock signal line (SCLK) is to beconnected to the eighth contact, and an internal power line (Vcc) is tobe connected to the ninth contact.

In the serial transfer type IC card, the fifth and seventh contacts areauxiliary ones, and the third contact is to have the internal power line(Vcc) connected thereto.

Further, the serial transfer type IC cards include an IC card with, anda one without, a function to make conversion between an logical addressin data processing and physical address in a flash memory. With the ICcard having the logical-physical address converting function being setin the adapter device 3, the computer main unit 5 will access the ICcard by a logical address via the adapter device 3, and the IC card 4access the flash memory through conversion of a logical address into aphysical address. With the IC card without the logical-physical addressconverting function being set in the adapter device 3, when the computermain unit 5 will access the IC card 4 by a logical address, the adapterdevice 3 convert the logical address into a physical address, and the ICcard 4 access the flash memory by the physical address.

Next, the adapter device 3 in which the aforementioned IC card 4 is tobe set will be illustrated and explained. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, theadapter device 3 according to the present invention consists of a body21 in which the IC card 4 is inserted, a cover member 22 attached to thedevice body 21 and a support member 23 to support the device body 21.

As shown in FIG. 5, the device body 21 includes a generally rectangularcasing 26 composed of an upper case 24 and a lower case 25 and havingelectronic parts etc. housed therein. The upper case 24 is formedgenerally rectangular by injection molding of a rigid synthetic resinsuch as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and has aluminum depositedthereon or is otherwise processed to improve the appearance thereof. Atthe front end as one short side of the upper case 24, there is formed anIC card insertion slot 27 through which the IC card 4 is inserted intothe device body 21. Also in the front portion of a main side 24a of theupper case 24, there is formed a generally U-shaped opening 28 whichcommunicates with the IC card insertion slot 27. When the fingerprintrecognition IC card 4 is inserted through the IC card insertion slot 27,the fingerprint detector 13 of the IC card 4 is exposed to outsidethrough the opening 28. Also, when the memory IC card 4 is insertedthrough the IC card insertion slot 27, a label for write-down of thetitle of stored data is exposed to outside through the U-shaped opening28.

The upper case 24 includes vertical side wall portions 24 b and 24 cextending longitudinally of the main side 24 a and laterally opposite toeach other and a bottom plate portion 24 d extending generally parallelto the main side 24 a. The bottom plate portion 24 d contiguous to theside wall portions 24 b and 24 c is provided at the front portion of theupper case 24. The inner side of the bottom plate portion 24 d forms apart of an IC card receptacle 46 in which the IC card 4 is to be set.The bottom plate portion 24 d included in the IC card receptacle 46 hasan IC card connector 41 installed thereon to be contiguous to the bottomplate portion 24 d.

As mentioned above, the side wall portions 24 b and 24 c of the uppercase 24 extend longitudinally of the main side 24 a. Projecting guiderails 29 a and 29 b are provided on the side wall portions 24 b and 24c, respectively. They extend longitudinally along the side wall portions24 b and 24 c, respectively, except for the front portions of the latteron which there are provided stoppers 31 a and 31 b for a cover member 22which is slidable on the device body 21. The cover member 22 is fittedon the main side 24 a of the upper case 24 included in the device body21 so as to be engaged on the guide rails 29 a and 29 b from the rearend of the device body 21. When the cover member 22 is fitted, bysliding, on the main side 24 a of the upper case 24 of the device body21 from the rear end, it will abut the stoppers 31 a and 31 b. Thus thecover member 21 is limited from further going over the stoppers 31 a and31 b.

Note that the upper case 24 has formed at each of the four corners ofthe main side 24 a thereof a screw hole 32 in which a set screw 88 forcoupling the upper case 24 to the lower case 25 is screwed. In addition,the upper case 24 has formed generally in the center of the main side 24a thereof a hole 33 through which an LED lens 33 a disposed above a LED(light emitting diode) which will light during operation of the adapterdevice 3 will be exposed to outside.

The lower case 25 is formed generally rectangular by injection moldingof the same synthetic resin, namely, ABS, as the material use to makethe upper case 24. The lower case 25 include vertical side wall portions25 b and 25 c extending longitudinally of a bottom plate portion 25 aand laterally opposite to each other and a vertical rear wall portion 25d at the rear end thereof. The side wall portions 25 b and 25 c haveformed in the front end portions thereof cuts 34 a and 34 b,respectively, which receive the stoppers 31 a and 31 b, respectively.The rear wall portion 25 d has formed nearly in the center thereof anopening 35 through which a USB jack 40 for data transfer between thecomputer main unit 5 and USB interface is exposed to outside. There isformed at each of the four corners of the bottom plate portion 25 a athrough-hole 30 corresponding to the screw hole 32 in the upper case 24.The bottom plate portion 25 a has provided at the front end thereof acushion member 30 a formed from a rubber or the like to prevent thesupport member 23 of the device body 21 from being fouled.

A compartment 36 for storage of electronic parts is defined inside thelower case 25 composed of the above-mentioned bottom plate portion 25 aand side wall portions 25 b and 25 c. In the compartment 36, printedwiring board supports 36 a and 36 b are provided on the bottom plateportion 25 a along the inner surfaces of the side wall portions 25 b and25 c. In the compartment 36, a first printed wiring board 37 is disposedon the bottom plate portion 25 a and a second printed wiring board 38 isdisposed over the first printed wiring board 37 and supported on theprinted wiring board supports 36 a and 36b. The first printed wiringboard 37 has built therein a USB interface circuit, interface circuitfor serial transfer and parallel transfer, etc. It is bonded to thebottom plate portion 25 a of the lower case 25 with an adhesive oradhesive tape. The second printed wiring board 38 is electricallyconnected to the first printed wiring board 37 and has mounted therein aconnector 41 for connection of the IC card 4, LED 39 which lights duringoperation, USB jack 40, etc. The second printed wiring board 38 hasformed in each of the four corners a screw insertion hole 38 acorresponding to the screw hole 32 in the upper case 24 and through-hole30 in the lower case 25.

The connector 41 to be fixed to the second printed wiring board 38 willbe described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. The connector 41includes a base 42 forming a part of the receptacle 46 for the IC card4, cover 43 to be fixed on the base 42, lid assembly 44 which closes theinsertion slot for the IC card 4, and an ejection member 45 for ejectionof the IC card 4.

The base 42 and the bottom plate portion 24 d of the upper case 24 formtogether a part of the IC card receptacle 46 for the IC card 4. The base42 has provided at the rear end thereof connecting terminals 47 whichare to be engaged on the terminal block 14 provided at the front end ofthe IC card 4. The connecting terminals 47 are equal in number to thecontacts 16 of the terminal block 14, and more specifically they countten in this embodiment. Each of the connecting terminals 47 is formedfrom an elastic electrically conductive piece. When the IC card 4 is setin the IC card receptacle 46, the connecting terminals 47 are engaged inthe corresponding engagement concavities 15 in the terminal block 14 andelastically put into contact with the contacts 16, respectively. Thus,the IC card 4 is held in place in the IC card receptacle 46.

The cover 43 installed to the base 42 is formed by bending a sheet metalor the like, and it is assembled to the base 42 to define a compartment51 for housing the IC card 4. The cover 43 also defines along with thebase 42 an IC card insertion opening 48 for the IC card 4 at the sidethereof opposite to that where the connecting terminals 47 are provided.The cover 43 has formed therein a generally U-shaped opening 49contiguous to the IC card insertion opening 48. The U-shaped opening 49is provided correspondingly to the generally U-shaped opening 28 in themain side 24 a of the upper case 24 of the device body 21. When thefingerprint recognition IC card 4 is introduced through the insertionslot 27 in the upper cases 24, the fingerprint detector 13 on the ICcard 4 is exposed to outside through the opening 49. Also, when thememory IC card 4 is inserted through the insertion slot 27 in the uppercase 24, the label provided on the memory IC card 4 for write-down ofthe title of stored data or the like is exposed to outside throughthe-opening 49.

The cover 43 has installed at the middle thereof the lid assembly 44which prevents foreign matter such as dust from coming into thecompartment 51 for the IC card 4, especially, to near the connectingterminals 47. The lid assembly 44 is integrally composed of a lid 52 toclose the compartment 51, and a pivot 53 pressed by the front end of theIC card 4 to pivot the lid 52. On the other hand, the cover 43 has apivot holder 54 through which the pivot 53 is penetrated. With the pivot53 penetrated through the pivot holder 54, the lid 52 is installed tostay inside the compartment 51. With the coil portion of a helicaltorsion spring 55 being wound on the pivot 53 and one arm of the helicaltorsion spring 55 being engaged on an engagement portion 55 a of thecover 43 while the other arm is engaged on the lid 52, the lid assembly44 is forced in the direction of arrow D₁ in FIG. 6 to close thecompartment 51. When no IC card 4 is inserted in the compartment 51, thelid assembly 44 is forced by the helical torsion spring 55 and thuscloses the compartment 51 to prevent foreign matter such as dust fromcoming into the compartment 51. When the IC card 4 is inserted from theIC card insertion opening 48 into the compartment 51, the lid assembly44 is pushed by the front end of the IC card 4 as shown in FIG. 7 andpivoted in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow D₁ in FIG. 6against the force of the helical torsion spring 55, and thus theterminal block 14 is put into contact with the connecting terminals 47.That is, when the IC card 4 is inserted, the lid 52 is pivoted about thepivot 53 supported pivotably in the pivot holder 54 until it isgenerally parallel to the cover 43.

Further, there is provided one side, parallel to the directions in whichthe IC card 4 is inserted and ejected, of the compartment 51 defined bythe base 42 and cover 43 an ejecting member 45 to eject the IC card 4from inside the compartment 51, as shown in FIG. 6. The ejecting member45 is formed to have a generally L shape to have a long movement guideportion 56 and a short movement limiting portion 57. The ejecting member45 is movable in the direction of arrow D₂ in which the IC card 4 isejected and in a direction opposite to the direction of arrow D₂ inwhich the IC card 4 is inserted, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The movementguide 56 has formed therein a guide recess 59 a projecting along themoving direction of the IC card 4 on the base 42 and in which a guideprojection 58 a is engaged.. It should be noted that the movementlimiting portion 57 has also formed therein a guide recess 59 bprojecting along the moving direction of the IC card 4 on the base 42and in which a guide projection 58 b is engaged.

The movement limiting portion 57 is positioned to be generallyperpendicular to the direction in which the IC card 4 is inserted, andhas a positioning portion 60 formed on a surface thereof which the ICcard 4 is to abut. The positioning portion 60 is engaged on thechamfered corner 12 and concavity 12 a of the IC card 4. That is to say,the ejecting member 45 positions the IC card 4 by means of a surface ofthe movement guide portion 56 opposite to the lateral side of the ICcard 4 and positioning portion 60 of the movement limiting portion 57.With the IC card 4 being pressed, the ejecting member 45 is guided bythe guide projections 58 a and 58 b and guide recesses 59 a and 59 b inmoving in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow D₂ in FIGS. 6and 7. Also, between the movement limiting portion 57 and rear wall 42 aof the base 42, there is provided a helical compression spring 61 whichforces the ejecting member 45 in the direction of arrow D₂ in FIGS. 6and 7 in which the IC card 4 is ejected. The helical compression spring61 is engaged at one end thereof in a concavity 62 in the movementlimiting portion 57 and thus limited in position.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a projection 63 is provided on one side wall42 b of the base 42 to project inwardly and has a control spring 64fixed thereto. The control spring 64 is a helical torsion spring whosecoil portion 64 a wound on the projection 63 and rests at one end 64 bthereof on the cover 43 to force the other end 64 c to the base 42 inthe direction of arrow D₃ in FIG. 10. The other end 64 c of the controlspring 64 is bent at an angle of about 90° inwardly to form anengagement portion 65. The engagement portion 65 is to be engaged on acatching projection 66 formed integrally with the movement guide portion56 of the ejecting member 45.

The catching projection 66 is formed to have a generally isoscelestriangle, and provided integrally on the surface of the movement guideportion 56 of the ejecting member 45 at the side of the side wall 42 bof the base 42 so that an apex 67 of the catching projection 66 ispositioned somewhat lower than the engagement portion 65 of the controlspring 64 wound on the projection 63 on the side wall 42 b of the base42. On the surface of the catching projection 66 at the side of thecover 43, there is formed a cam portion 68 which forces up theengagement portion 65 of the control spring 64. The cam portion 68 isformed ascending from the apex 67 toward the cover 43. Also, in aportion of the catching projection 66 opposite to the apex 67, there isformed an engagement concavity 69 in which the engagement portion 65 ofthe control spring 64 is to be engaged.

In the above connector 41, when no IC card 4 is inserted, the engagementportion 65 of the control spring 64 is not engaged in the engagementconcavity 69 in the catching projection 66 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.Therefore, the ejecting member 45 is forced by the helical compressionspring 61 in the direction of arrow D₃ in FIGS. 8 and 9 and thus an ICcard 4 can be inserted or ejected.

When an IC card 4 is inserted first at the terminal block 14 thereofinto the compartment 51 while the ejecting member 45 is in the positionin which the IC card 4 can be inserted or ejected, the front end thereofis positioned in place by the movement limiting portion 57 andpositioning portion 60 of the ejecting member 45 as shown in FIG. 7. Asthe IC card 4 is further pressed, it is-guided by the guide projections58 a and 58 b and guide recesses 59 a and 59 b in moving in thedirection opposite to the direction of arrow D₂ in FIGS. 8 and 9 againstthe force of the helical compression spring 61.

Then, the engagement portion 65 of the control spring 64 moves from theapex 67 to the engagement concavity 69 along the cam portion 68 of thecatching projection 66 provided integrally with the movement guideportion 56 of the ejecting member 45 against the force in the directionof arrow D₃ in FIGS. 9 and 10. When the engagement portion 65 of thecontrol spring 64 has completely moved over the cam portion 68, it isengaged into the engagement concavity 69 in the catching projection 66under the force of the control spring 64 itself as shown in FIG. 10.Thus, the ejecting member 45 is held in a position where the contacts 16included in the terminal block 14 of the IC card 4 and connectingterminals 47 will be connected to each other. The connecting terminals47 provided on the base 42 are engaged in the engagement concavities 15of the terminal block 14 at the IC card 4 and put elastically intocontact with the contacts 16, respectively, thus electrical connectionis established between the connecting terminals 47 and contacts 16. Itshould be noted that in this condition, the IC card 4 is generallywholly received in the IC card receptacle 46 except for a rear-endportion which is exposed to outside. The rear-end portion of the IC card4 is to be pressed for ejection from inside the IC card receptacle 46.

When the above-mentioned rear-end portion of the IC card 4 is pressedfor ejection from the IC card receptacle 46, the ejecting member 45 ismoved in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow D₂ in FIG. 10against the force of the helical compression spring 61. Then, thecatching projection 66 is disengaged from the engagement concavity 69under the force in the direction of arrow D₃ in FIG. 10 and thus theengagement portion 65 of the control spring 64 is moved toward the sideof the catching projection 66 at the side of the base 42. Because of thedisengagement of the engagement portion 65 of the control spring 64 fromthe engagement concavity 69 of the catching projection 66, the ejectingmember 45 is moved in the direction of arrow D₂ in FIG. 10 under theforce of the helical compression spring 61 in a direction in which theterminal block 14 is disconnected to the connecting terminals 47, andreturns to a first position where the IC card 4 is ejected. Thereafter,the IC card 4 is drawn out of the IC card receptacle 7.

For extraction from the connector 41 constructed as above, the IC card 4has only to be pressed at the rear-end portion thereof So, the IC card 4can easily be ejected.

In the embodiment having been described in the foregoing, the IC cardejecting mechanism permits the user to eject the IC card 4 from the ICcard receptacle 46 by pressing the IC card 4 itself at the rear-endportion. The ejecting mechanism may include an ejecting member which isto be operated by the user to eject the IC card 4 from inside the ICcard receptacle 46.

The cover member 22 installed to the device body 21 composed of theupper and lower cases 24 and 25 covers the upper side of the device body21 as shown in FIG. 5. It is formed by injection molding of atransparent or translucent synthetic resin such as a polycarbonate orthe like. Since the cover member 22 is thus transparent or translucent,the main side 24 a of the upper case 24 is visible from outside and theLED 39 as a pilot lamp is also visible through the LED lens 33 a exposedto outside through the hole 33. Also, the label on the memory IC card 4or the like is visible since it is exposed to outside through theopening 28 in the upper case 24.

The cover member 22 has formed in the longitudinal opposite edgesthereof guide recesses 71 a and 71 b in which the guide rails 29 a and29 b provided on the side wall portions 24 b and 24 c, respectively, ofthe upper cases 24 are engaged. In the front portions of thelongitudinal edges of the cover member 22, there are formed cuts 72 aand 72 b in which the stoppers, 31 a and 31 b of the upper case 24 areengaged. The cover member 22 is fitted to the upper case 24 from therear end of the device body 21 with the guide rails 29 a and 29 b beingengaged in the guide recesses 71 a and 71 b, respectively, until thestoppers 31 a and 31 b abut the inner ends of the cuts 72 a and 72 b,respectively.

Note that the cover member 22 is fitted to the upper case 24 from therear end, not the front end, of the device body 21 and thus it will notclose the IC card insertion slot 27 in the upper case of the device body21. This is intended for allowing an imaging unit provided at the rearend of the IC card 4 or an antenna provided on the rear end of an ICcard with GPS or a radio-communication interface IC card or the like tobe exposed to outside even when such a card 4 is set in the receptacle47 in the device body 21, for always exposing the insertion slot 27 tooutside, and also for permitting easy insertion or ejection of the ICcard 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, the support member 23 to support the device body 21includes a base portion 74 and first and second leg portions 75 and 76formed integrally with the base portion 74 in the form of a fork.Namely, the support member 23 is generally V-shaped. The support member23 has attached, with an adhesive or the like, to the rear end thereof anonslip member 77 formed from a rubber or the like to assure insertionor ejection of the IC card 4 with the adapter device 3 being placed on asurface of installation such as a desk top. The base portion 74 hasprovided at the end thereof a fixture 78 to which a hinge mechanism 81which couples the support member 23 and the device body 21 to each otheris fixed.

The above hinge mechanism 81 will be explained below with reference toFIGS. 5 and 11. As shown, the hinge mechanism 81 includes pivotingsupport members 82 fixed to the bottom plate portion 25 a of the lowercase 25 of the device body 21, and a pivoting member 83 pivotablyinstalled to the pivoting support members 82. Each of the pivotingsupport members 82 in pair includes a fixing portion 82 a for fixing tothe bottom plate portion 25 a of the lower case 25 and a pivotingsupport portion 82 b for supporting the pivoting member 83 to bepivotable. The pivoting support member 82 is generally L-shaped. Thefixing portion 82 a has formed therein a screw insertion hole 82c forfixing to the bottom plate portion 25 a of the lower case 25.

The pivoting member 83 includes a to-be-fixed portion 83 a for fixing tothe fixture 78 of the support member 23, and support portions 83 bprovided at opposite ends of the to-be-fixed portion 83 a. The pivotingmember 83 is generally C-shaped. The to-be-fixed portion 83 a has formedtherein fixing holes 83 c for fixing to the fixture 78 of the supportmember 23. Each of the support portions 83 b provided opposite to theto-be-fixed portion 83 a is superposed on the inner surface of thepivoting support portion 82 b of the pivoting support member 82, andsecured to the corresponding pivoting support portion 82 b with a shaftmember 84.

The hinge mechanism 81 constructed as above has the pivoting supportmembers 82 thereof installed to the bottom plate portion 25 a of thelower case 25 and the pivoting member 83 installed to the support member23. More particularly, the pivoting member 83 is fixed to the supportmember 23 with a set screw 85 inserted in each of the screw holes 83 cformed in the to-be-fixed portion 83 a and screwed in screw holes 86 inthe fixture 78 of the support member 23. Also, the fixing portion 83 bof each pivoting support member 82 is placed on the insertion hole 87 inthe fixture 78 of the support member 23 and secured by tightening a setscrew 88. The set screw 88 is inserted through fixing hole 83 c, thenthrough the insertion hole 30 formed at the rear end of the bottom plateportion 25 a of the lower case 25 and further through the screwinsertion hole 38 a formed at the rear end of the second printed wiringboard 38, and screwed into the screw hole 32 formed at the rear end ofthe main side 24 a of the upper case 24. Thus, the hinge mechanism 81 isinstalled to the device body 21 to project downward below the devicebody 21. As shown in FIG. 12, the device body 21 secured to the supportmember 23 with the hinge mechanism 81 disposed between them is pivotedabout the hinge mechanism 81 within a range in which a USB plug 89 of aconnecting cord connected to the USB jack 40 at the rear end of thedevice body 21 will not touch a surface 91 where the adapter device 3 isplaced, for example, within a range of 15 deg., so that the IC cardinsertion slot 27 formed in the upper case 24 is elevated or lowered.

The adapter device 3 constructed as above is assembled as will bedescribed below. First, the first printed wiring board 37 is installedto the bottom plate portion 25 a of the lower case 25, and the secondprinted wiring board 38 having the connector 41 for connection of the ICcard 4 installed thereto is disposed on the wiring board supports 36 aand 36 b. Further, the pivoting member 83 of the hinge mechanism 81 isinstalled to the bottom plate portion 25 a of the lower case 25 with theset screw 85 inserted into each of the fixing holes 83 c formed in theto-be-fixed portion 83 a and screwed in the screw hole 86 in the fixture78 of the support member 23. Then, the upper case 24 is aligned with thelower case 25 having the first and second printed wiring boards 37 and38 installed thereon. Thereafter, the front end of the upper case 24 isjoined integrally to the lower case 25 with the set screw 88 beinginserted into each of the insertion holes 30 provided at the front endof the bottom plate portion 25a of the lower case 25, further into thescrew insertion hole 38 a at the front end of the main side 24 a of theupper case 24, and screwed into the screw hole 32 at the front end ofthe main side 24 a of the upper case 24. Also, the rear end of the uppercase 24 is joined integrally to the lower case 25 with the set screw 88being inserted into each fixing hole 83 c in the fixing piece 82 a ofthe pivoting support member 82 included in the hinge mechanism 81, theninto the insertion hole 30 provided at the rear end of the secondprinted wiring board 38, and screwed into the screw hole 32 at the rearend of the main side 24 a of the upper case 24. The set screw 88 is usedto fix the support member 23 and couple the upper and lower cases 24 and25 to each other. The number of parts and number of assembling steps arethus reduced.

As shown in FIG. 12, the adapter device 3 constructed as above hasconnected to the USB jack 40 exposed to outside through the opening 35at the rear end of the body 21 thereof the USB plug 89 of the USB cableconnected to the computer main unit 5 in the information processingapparatus. With the device body 21 being supported on the support member23, the adapter device 3 is placed on the surface of installation 91such as a desk top or the like. The device body 21 is pivoted about thehinge mechanism 81 in relation to the support member 23 for the IC cardinsertion slot 27 formed in the device body 21 to be elevated orlowered. That is, when the IC card insertion slot 27, namely, the devicebody 21, is at the lower position as shown in FIG. 12, the IC card 4 isinserted first at the front end thereof where the terminal block 14 isprovided into the IC card insertion slot 27 generally in parallel withthe surface of installation 91 from the direction of arrow D₄ in FIG.12. Also, when the IC card insertion slot 27, namely, the device body21, is at the higher position, the IC card 4 is inserted first at thefront end thereof into the IC card insertion slot 27 obliquely inrelation to the surface of installation 91 from above in the directionof arrow D₄ in FIG. 12. Since the IC card insertion slot 27 for the ICcard 4 can be elevated or lowered as above, the user can insert the ICcard 4 into the insertion slot 27 from more than one direction, whichcontributes to an improved operability of the adapter device 3.

When the IC card 4 inserted from the insertion slot 27 is pressed by theuser, the lid 52 in the connector 41 is pressed by the front end of theIC card 4 and thus pivoted about the pivot 53 pivotably supported by thepivoting holder 54 until the lid 52 is generally parallel to the cover43 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The front end of the IC card 4 ispositioned by the movement limiting portion 57 of the ejecting member 45and the positioning portion 60. As the IC card 4 is further pressed, itis guided by the guide projections 58 a and 58 b and guide recesses 59 aand 59 b in moving in the direction opposite to the direction of arrowD₂ in FIGS. 8 and 9 against the force of the helical compression spring61.

Then, the engagement portion 65 of the control spring 64 moves from theapex 67 to the engagement concavity 69 along the cam portion 68 of thecatching projection 66 provided integrally with the movement guideportion 56 of the ejecting member 45 against the force in the directionof arrow D₃ in FIGS. 9 and 10. When the engagement portion 65 of thecontrol spring 64 has completely moved over the cam portion 68, it isengaged into the engagement concavity 69 in the catching projection 66under the force of the control spring 64 itself as shown in FIG. 10.Thus, the ejecting member 45 is held in a position where the contacts 16included in the terminal block 14 of the IC card 4 and connectingterminals 47 will be connected to each other. The connecting terminals47 provided on the base 42 are engaged in the engagement concavities 15of the terminal block 14 at the IC card 4 and put elastically intocontact with the contacts 16, respectively, thus electrical connectionis established between the connecting terminals 47 and contacts 16. Wheninserting the IC card 4, the adapter device 3 will be pressed by theuser. Since the nonslip member 77 is provided on the bottom of thesupport member 23, however, the adapter device 3 will not be slid on thesurface of installation 91 and thus the IC card 4 can easily be insertedinto the adapter device 3.

In this adapter device 3, since the main side at the rear end of the ICcard 4 is exposed to outside through the opening 28 in the main side 24a of the device body 21 and opening 49 in the connector 41 and the covermember 22 is transparent or translucent, the user can easily identifythe type of an IC card 4 set in the adapter device 3. In case afingerprint recognition IC card 4 is set in the IC card receptacle 46,the fingerprint detector 13 is exposed to outside through the opening 28in the main side 24 a of the device body 21 and opening 49 in theconnector 41 and thus the user easily identify the type of the IC cardinside the adapter device 3. For fingerprint registration or recognitionwith a fingerprint recognition IC card 4, the user can slide the covermember 22 to the rear end of the device body 21 and press the fingertipto the fingerprint detector 13 through the opening 28 in the main side24 a of the device body 21 and opening 49 in the connector 41 with theIC card 4 being set in place. Also, in case a memory IC card 4 is set inthe adapter device 3, the label on the rear side of the IC card 4 isexposed to outside through the opening 28 in the main side 24 a of thedevice body 21 and opening 49 in the connector 41 and thus the user cancheck the data stored in the IC card 4 by viewing through thetransparent or translucent cover member 22. Since the opening 28 isformed in the main side 24 a of the device body 21 and opening 49 isformed in the connector 41 and also the cover member 22 is formed from atransparent or translucent material, any one of IC cards 4 havingdifferent functions, respectively, can conveniently be used with theadapter device 3.

When the IC card 4 is pressed at the rear end thereof for ejection fromthe IC card receptacle 46, the ejecting member 45 is moved in thedirection opposite to the direction of arrow D₂ in FIG. 10 against theforce of the helical compression spring 61. Then, the engagement portion65 of the control spring 64 is disengaged from the engagement concavity69 under the force in the direction of arrow D₃ in FIG. 10 and thus theengagement portion 65 of the control spring 64 is moved toward the base42 of the catching projection 66 under the force of the helicalcompression spring 61. Because of the disengagement of the engagementportion 65 of the control spring 64 from the engagement concavity 69 ofthe catching projection 66, the ejecting member 45 is moved in thedirection of arrow D₂ in FIG. 10 under the force of the helicalcompression spring 61 in a direction in which the terminal block 14 isdisconnected from the connecting terminals 47, and returns to a firstposition where the IC card-4 is ejected. Thereafter, the IC card 4 isdrawn out of the IC card receptacle 46.

Since the support member 23 supporting the device body 21 has thenonslip member 77 provided on the bottom thereof, the IC card 4 cansmoothly be inserted with the adapter device 3 not sliding on thesurface of installation 91 whether the device body 21 is directeddownward or upward.

When the device body 21 is pivoted in relation to the support member 23until the insertion slot 27 is directed upward as shown in FIG. 12, theUSB jack 40 at the rear end of the device body 21 will be directedtoward the surface of installation 91. However, since the hingemechanism 81 is provided to project from the bottom of the device body21, there is a clearance 92 between the support member 23 and hingedevice 81. Therefore, even when the device body 21 is pivoted inrelation to the support member 23 until the insertion slot 27 isdirected upward, the USB plug 89 of the USB cable can be connected tothe USB jack 40.

In the above-mentioned adapter device 3, the cover member 22 is slidablein relation to the device body 21. According to the present invention,however, the cover member 22 may be supported at the rear end of thedevice body 21 pivotably by a hinge mechanism to permit the main side 24a of the device body 21 to be opened and closed.

Next, the circuit configurations of the adapter device 3 in which an ICcard 4 is to be set and the information processing apparatus 2 to whichthe adapter device 3 is to be connected will be described with referenceto FIG. 13. First, the information processing apparatus 2 will beexplained. The information processing apparatus 2 is a desk-top personalcomputer, notebook-sized personal computer or the like. It includes ahard disk 101 to store various programs, processing data, etc., ROM 102having control programs etc. stored therein, RAM 103 to which a programor processing data is loaded, an input operation unit 6 including akeyboard, mouse, ten keys, etc. to supply a command signal, display unit7 which displays data being processed, such as CRT, LCD or the like, USBinterface 106 for making data communications with any other peripheralapparatus such as the adapter device 3 according to the USB Standard,and a control unit 107 to control the system operation, such as CPU orthe like. Based on a command signal supplied from the input operationunit 6, the control unit 107 reads a predetermined application programfrom the hard disk 101 to the RAM 103 and displays it on the displayunit 7 while processing data. When the user tries to access a specificcomputer or a specific file stored in the hard disk 101 with the adapterdevice 3 being connected to the USB interface 106 and a fingerprintrecognition IC card 4 being set in the adapter device 3, the controlunit 107 makes a request for authentication by fingerprint recognitionand displays it on the display unit 6. Only when the control unit 107receives authentication data indicating that the user's fingerprint hasbeen authenticated from the IC card 4, it allows the access to thespecific computer or specific file stored in the hard disk 101. Also,when a memory IC card 4 is set in the adapter device 3, the control unit107 displays data stored in the IC card 4, list of data titles, etc. onthe display unit 7 and thus the user can operate the informationprocessing apparatus 2 while viewing the display unit 7.

Next, the adapter device 3 which can be connected by USB to aninformation processing apparatus 2 will be explained with reference toFIG. 13. As shown, the adapter device 3 includes a USB interface 111which makes data communications with the information processingapparatus 2 as a host apparatus according to the USB Standard, a serialinterface 112 which makes serial transfer of data to and from an IC card4 set in the IC card receptacle, a parallel interface 113 which makesparallel transfer of data to and from the IC card 4 set in the IC cardreceptacle, an address converter 114 which converts, when the IC card 4set in the IC card receptacle is a memory IC card, a logical address indata processing into a physical address in a flash memory in the IC card4, and an LED 39 which lights which the information processing apparatus2 is accessing the IC card 4. This adapter device 3 can receive each ofmultiple types of IC cards different in function from each other in theIC card receptacle 46, and functions also as a transponder for theinformation processing apparatus 2 and IC card 4. With a memory IC card4 being set in the receptacle 46, the adapter device 3 converts alogical address into a physical address when access is being made to theIC card 4. While the information processing apparatus 2 is accessing theIC card 4 set in the IC card receptacle 46, for example, the adapterdevice 3 turns on the LED 39 to inform the user that the informationprocessing apparatus 2 is accessing the IC card 4, which is intended toprevent the user from erroneously taking out the IC card 4 from the ICcard receptacle 46 while the information processing apparatus 2 isaccessing the IC card 4.

The information processing apparatus 2 and adapter device 3 areconnected to each other by an interface which can supply an electricpower to the IC card 4, namely, “USB interface” in this embodiment. TheUSB interface can supply an electric power to a peripheral apparatussuch as the adapter device 3 connected to the information processingapparatus 2 as the host apparatus. It supplies a DC current of 500 mAfor example from the information processing apparatus 2 to the adapterdevice 3, whereby the LED 39 in the adapter device 3 is turned on andthe IC card 4 set in the IC card receptacle 46 is powered.

Next, the circuit configuration of the IC card 4 to be set in theadapter device 3 will be described. A fingerprint recognition IC card 4will be explained with reference to FIG. 14. As shown, the fingerprintrecognition IC card 4 includes a fingerprint detector 121 on which theuser's fingertip is to be pressed, a first memory 122 to store afingerprint to be registered, a fingerprint checking unit 123 to checkfingerprint data supplied from the fingerprint detector 121 withregistered fingerprints stored in the first memory 122, a second memory124 to store identification (ID) data indicative of the type of an ICcard 4, serial number of the IC card 4 and information related with thefingerprint registered in the first memory 122, a serial interface 125for serial transfer of authentication data to and from the adapterdevice 3, a parallel interface 126 for parallel transfer ofauthentication data to and from the adapter device 3, and a controller127 to control the system operation.

The fingerprint detector 121 includes an imaging unit consisting of aCCD (charge-coupled device), line sensor, etc., and a backlight toilluminate a surface on which a fingertip is to be pressed. When auser's fingertip is pressed to the fingerprint detector 121, thebacklight is turned on and the fingerprint is captured by the imagingunit. The fingerprint detector 121 extracts features such as branchesand center of a dermatoglyph from the captured fingerprint. Whenregistering a fingerprint, the fingerprint detector 121 suppliesfingerprint features to the first memory 122. Thus, the first memory 122stores, as fingerprint data, features of a fingerprint to be registeredaccording to each ID number. Also, when recognizing a fingerprint, thefingerprint detector 121 supplies the fingerprint data to thefingerprint checking unit 123.

For recognition of the fingerprint of a user, the fingerprint checkingunit 123 checks fingerprint data supplied from the fingerprint detector121 with the fingerprint data stored in the first memory 122 forauthentication of the user. When the fingerprint data from thefingerprint detector 121 is found coincident with the fingerprint dataread from the first memory 122 and thus the user is authenticated, thefingerprint checking unit 123 supplies authentication data to the serialinterface 125 or parallel interface 126. If the fingerprint data fromthe fingerprint detector 121 is found not coincident with thefingerprint data read from the first memory 122 and thus the user is notauthenticated, the fingerprint checking unit 123 suppliesnon-authentication data to the serial interface 125 or parallelinterface 126.

The second memory 124 stores information related with the fingerprintdata registered in the first memory 122. More specifically, the secondmemory 124 has stored therein the name and ID number of a user havingregistered his or her fingerprint, serial number of the IC card and thelike. When the fingerprint checking unit 123 has authenticated the user,the second memory 124 supplies data on the authenticated user along withthe authentication data to the serial interface 125 or parallelinterface 126.

The second memory 124 has stored therein ID data for identifying an ICcard 4 set in the IC card receptacle 46 as a one for parallel/serialtransfer or a one dedicated for serial transfer. Further, the secondmemory 124 has stored therein function ID data for identifying the ICcard 4 as a one for fingerprint recognition or a one for memory. Whenthe information processing apparatus 2 accesses the second memory 124,the latter supplies the identification data first to the informationprocessing apparatus 2 which will thus be able to identify the type ofthe IC card 4.

The controller 127 controls the IC card 4 as a whole. For example, whenthe user presses the fingertip to the fingerprint detector 121, thecontroller 127 drives the fingerprint detector 121, and controls writeof fingerprint data for registration to the first memory 122, write ofinformation on fingerprint data for registration to the second member24, read of the information on the fingerprint data, and read ofidentification data from the second memory 124. The controller 127selects an interface for use correspondingly to control data from theinformation processing apparatus 2, that is, it selects either theserial interface 125 or parallel interface 126.

When the aforementioned fingerprint recognition IC card 4 is set in theadapter device 3, the information processing apparatus 2 operates aswill be described below with reference to FIG. 15. When the IC card 4 isset in the IC card receptacle 46 of the adapter device 3 being connectedby the USB interface to the information processing apparatus 2, theinformation processing apparatus 2 goes to step S1 where it will detecta potential at the IC card insertion detecting contacts and judgewhether the potential is equal to that on the Vss contacts. When thepotential at the IC card insertion detecting contacts is determined tobe equal to that on the Vss contacts, the information processingapparatus 2 determines that the IC card is set in the IC card receptacle46 of the adapter device 3, and goes to step S2. If the potential at theIC card insertion detecting contacts is determined not to be equal tothat on the Vss contacts, the information processing apparatus 2determines that no IC card 4 is set in the IC card receptacle 46 of theadapter device 3, and returns to step S1 where it will repeat the dueoperations.

In step S2, the information processing apparatus 2 starts supplying apower to the IC card 4 set in the adapter device 3 via a USB cable, andgoes to step S3 where it will start accessing the IC card 4. At thistime, supplied with the power supplied via the USB cable from theinformation processing apparatus 2, the pilot lamp 39 on the adapterdevice 3 is turned on. Thus, the user can visually confirm that theaccess to the IC card 4 is started. Then, the information processingapparatus 2 accesses a specific address in the second memory 124 in theIC card 4. That is, the information processing apparatus 2 supplies aserial protocol bus state signal BS and serial clock SCLK to the IC card4, and accesses the second memory 124 to read IC card function ID datavia a data line (DATA0) used in the serial transfer and paralleltransfer.

Then the information processing apparatus 2 goes to step S4 where itwill judge based-on the IC card function ID data read from the secondmemory 124 which the IC card 4 set in the adapter device 3 is, a one forfingerprint recognition or a one for memory. When the informationprocessing apparatus 2 determines the IC card 4 set in the adapterdevice 3 to be a fingerprint recognition one, it goes to step S5. If theinformation processing apparatus 5 determines the IC card 4 not to beany fingerprint recognition one it makes operations corresponding to anIC card 4 having other function.

In step S5, the information processing apparatus 2 judges based on thecommunication ID data read from the second memory 124 which the IC card4 set in the adapter device 3 is, a one for parallel transfer or a oneonly for serial transfer. When the information processing apparatus 2determines the IC card 4 to be for parallel transfer, it goes to stepS6. If it determines the IC card 4 to be a one only for serial transfer,it goes to step S7.

Having determined the IC card 4 set in the adapter device 3 to be forparallel transfer, the information processing apparatus 2 switches theinterface to the parallel interface 126 by means of the controller 127in step S6 for parallel transfer of data for subsequent operations suchas fingerprint registration, check, etc. More particularly, the paralleldata transfer is done along a first data line (DATA1), second data line(DATA2) and third data line (DATA3) of the parallel interface.

Having determined the IC card 4 set in the adapter device 3 to be onlyfor serial transfer, the information processing apparatus 2 switches theinterface to the serial interface 125 by means of the controller 127 instep S7 for serial transfer of data for subsequent operations such asfingerprint registration, check, etc. More specifically, the serial datatransfer is done along the data line (DATA0).

The fingerprint recognition IC card 4 operates for fingerprintregistration and check as will be described with reference to FIG. 16.First in step S11, when the user operates the input operation unit 8,the controller 127 in the IC card 4 judges whether a fingerprintregister command has been supplied from the information processingapparatus 2. When the fingerprint register command has been supplied,the controller 127 goes to step S12 where it will operate for thefingerprint registration. If no fingerprint register command has beensupplied, the controller 127 goes to step S14 for the fingerprintregistration.

When in the fingerprint registration mode, the IC card 4 is suppliedwith a user's finger data in step S12. More specifically, the userslides, to the rear end, the cover member 22 installed to the devicebody 21 of the adapter device 3 in which the fingerprint recognition ICcard 4 is set, introduces the fingertip into the adapter device 3 fromthe opening 28 formed in the upper case 24 of the device body 21 andopening 49 in the connector 41, and presses the fingertip to thefingerprint detector 121. Then, the fingerprint detector 121 will detectthe user's fingerprint, the imaging unit captures the fingerprint andextracts features such as branches and center of a dermatoglyph from thecaptured fingerprint to generate fingerprint data.

In step S13, the controller 127 in the IC card 4 assigns an ID number tothe fingerprint data, and controls the fingerprint detector 121 tosupply the fingerprint data to the first memory 122. Thus, the firstmemory 122 stores, namely, registers the fingerprint data on the user.

At this time, the IC card 4 can store, in the second memory 124,information related with the registered fingerprint data in associationwith the fingerprint data ID number. Namely, the user enters the nameand ID number of the user by operating the input operation unit 6 at theinformation processing apparatus 2, and the input data is recorded tothe second memory 124 in the IC card 4 via the serial interfaces 112 and125 or parallel interfaces 113 and 126.

Next, how to check a fingerprint will be described. When no fingerprintregister command has been supplied to the IC card 4 in step S11, the ICcard 4 will be supplied with a fingerprint of a user trying to use theinformation processing apparatus 2 in step S14. More specifically, theuser slides, to the rear end, the cover member 22 installed to thedevice body 21 of the adapter device 3 in which the fingerprintrecognition IC card 4 is set, introduces the fingertip into the adapterdevice 3 from the opening 28 formed in the upper case 24 of the devicebody 21 and opening 49 in the connector 41, and presses the fingertip tothe fingerprint detector 121. Then, the fingerprint detector 121 willdetect the user's fingerprint, the imaging unit captures the fingerprintand extracts features such as branches and center of a dermatoglyph fromthe captured fingerprint to generate fingerprint data, and supplies thedata to the fingerprint checking unit 123.

In step S15, the checking unit 123 in the IC card 4 reads registeredfingerprint data from the first memory 122, and checks the fingerprintdata read from the first memory 122 with fingerprint data supplied fromthe fingerprint detector 121. Then, when the fingerprint checking unit123 confirms that the fingerprint data supplied from the fingerprintdetector 121 coincides with the fingerprint data read from the firstmemory 122, the IC card 4 goes to step S16. If the result of checking isnegative, the IC card 4 will go to step S17.

When the fingerprint data supplied from the fingerprint detector 121coincides with the fingerprint data read from the first memory 122, theIC card 4 determines that the user trying to access the informationprocessing apparatus 2 can have been authenticated, and supplies, instep S 16, authentication data to the information processing apparatus 2via the serial interfaces 112 and 125 or parallel interface 113 and 126.Having received the authentication data, the information processingapparatus 2 is ready for use by the authenticated user.

When the fingerprint data supplied from the fingerprint detector 121does not coincide with the fingerprint data read from the first memory122, the IC card 4 determines that the user trying to access theinformation processing apparatus 2 can not have been authenticated, andsupplies, in step S17, non-authentication data to the informationprocessing apparatus 2 via the serial interfaces 112 and 125 or parallelinterface 113 and 126. Having received the non-authentication data, theinformation processing apparatus 2 is inhibited from being used by thenon-authenticated user.

In the above example, the fingerprint recognition is used to limit theuser's access to the information processing apparatus 2. In addition,however, the fingerprint recognition may be used to limit any user'saccess to a specific file stored in an external storage unit such as ahard disk 101, an optical disk or the like, installed in the informationprocessing apparatus 2.

Next, the memory IC card 4 compatible with the adapter device 3 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 17. As shown, the memory IC card 4includes a single flash memory 131 or a plurality of flash memories 131to store data, a memory controller 132 to control write and read to andfrom the flash memory 131, an error correction unit 133 to add an errorcorrection code to data stored in the flash memory 131 and decode anerror correction code in data read from the flash memory 131, a memory134 having stored therein various parameters for data write or read, abuffer memory 135 to provisionally store data for storage into the flashmemory 131, an address converter 136 to make a conversion between alogical address in data processing and a physical address in the memory,a serial interface 137 to transfer data to and from the adapter device 3by serial transfer, a parallel interface 138 to transfer data to andfrom the adapter device 3 by parallel transfer, and a controller 139 tocontrol the system operation.

The memory 134 has stored therein ID data for identifying which an ICcard 4 set in the IC card receptacle 46 is, a one for parallel/serialtransfer or a one only for serial transfer. Also, the memory 134 hasstored therein IC card function ID data indicative of which the IC cardis, a fingerprint recognition IC card or a memory IC card. When theinformation processing apparatus 2 accesses the IC card function IDdata, the memory 134 supplies the ID data first to the informationprocessing apparatus 2 which will thus be able to identify the type ofthe IC card 4. Further, the memory 134 has stored therein addressconversion ID data indicating whether the IC card 4 includes the addressconverter 136 or not.

The controller 127 selects an interface used correspondingly to controldata supplied from the information processing apparatus 2, namely, itselects either the serial interface 137 or the parallel interface 138.

In the memory IC card 4 constructed as above, when a logical address issupplied from the information processing apparatus 2, the controller 139controls the address converter 136 to convert the logical address into aphysical address to access the flash memory 131, and writes data to aspecific address or reads data stored in a specific address.

Next, operations made in the memory IC card for data read and write willbe described with reference to FIG. 18. When the aforementioned memoryIC card 4 is set in the adapter device 3, the information processingapparatus 2 operates as will be described below with reference to FIG.17. When the IC card 4 is set in the IC card receptacle 46 of theadapter device 3 being connected by the USB cable to the informationprocessing apparatus 2, the information processing apparatus 2 goes tostep S2 1 where it will detect a potential at the IC card insertiondetecting contacts and whether the potential is equal to that on the Vsscontacts. When the potential at the IC card insertion detecting contactsis determined to be equal to that on the Vss contacts, the informationprocessing apparatus 2 determines that the IC card is set in the IC cardreceptacle 46 of the adapter device 3, and goes to step S22. If thepotential at the IC card insertion detecting contacts is determined notto be equal to that on the Vss contacts, the information processingapparatus 2 determines that no IC card 4 is set in the IC cardreceptacle 46 of the adapter device 3, and returns to step S1 where itwill repeat the due operations.

In step S22, the information processing apparatus 2 starts supplying apower to the IC card 4 set in the adapter device 3 via the USB cable,and goes to step S23 where it will start accessing the IC card 4. Atthis time, supplied with the power supplied via the UBS cable from theinformation processing apparatus 2, the LED 39 on the adapter device 3is turned on. Thus, the user can visually confirm that the access to theIC card 4 is started.. Then, the information processing apparatus 2accesses a specific address in the memory 134 in the IC card 4. That is,the information processing apparatus 2 supplies a serial protocol busstate signal BS and serial clock SCLK to the IC card 4, and accesses thememory 134 to read IC card function ID data via a data line (DATA0) usedin the serial transfer and parallel transfer.

In step S24, the information processing apparatus 2 judges based onaddress conversion ID data read from the memory 134 whether the IC card4 set in the adapter device 3 includes the address converter 136 or not.When the IC card 4 in the adapter device 3 has the address conversionfunction, the information processing apparatus 2 will access the flashmemory 131 by a logical address. When the IC card 4 set in the adapterdevice 3 has no address conversion function, the information processingapparatus 2 will convert a logical address into a physical address bymeans of the address converter 114 provided in the adapter device 3 andaccess, by a physical address, the flash memory 131 in the IC card 4having no address conversion function.

Then the information processing apparatus 2 goes to step S25 where itwill judge based on the IC card function ID data read from the memory134 whether the IC card 4 set in the adapter device 3 is a memory ICcard. When the information processing apparatus 2 determines the IC card4 set in the adapter device 3 to be a memory IC card, it goes to stepS26. If the information processing apparatus 5 determines the IC card 4not to be any memory IC card, it makes operations corresponding to an ICcard 4 having other function.

In step S26, the information processing apparatus 2 judges based on thecommunication ID data read from the memory 134 which the IC card 4 setin the adapter device 3 is, a one for parallel transfer or a one onlyfor serial transfer. When the information processing apparatus 2determines the IC card 4 to be for parallel transfer, it goes to stepS27. If it determines the IC card 4 to be a one only for serialtransfer, it goes to step S28.

Having determined the IC card 4 set in the adapter device 3 to be forparallel transfer, the information processing apparatus 2 switches theinterface to the parallel interface 138 by means of the controller 139in step S27 for parallel transfer of data to and from the flash memory131. Then, the parallel data transfer is done along a first data line(DATA1), second data line (DATA2) and third data line (DATA3) of theparallel interface.

Having determined the IC card 4 set in the adapter device 3 to be onlyfor serial transfer, the information processing apparatus 2 switches theinterface to the serial interface 137 by means of the controller 139 instep S28 for serial transfer of data to and from the flash memory 131.The serial data transfer is done along the data line (DATA0).

The access to the flash memory 131 in steps S27 and S28 has to be doneby a physical address. On this account, when the IC card 4 has theaddress conversion function, the access to the flash memory 131 is doneby converting a logical address into a physical address by means of theaddress converter 136 in the IC card 4. In case the IC card 4 has noaddress conversion function, the access to the flash memory 131 is doneby converting a logical address into a physical address by means of theaddress converter 114 in the adapter device 3. The memory IC card 4stores, into the flash memory 131, data transferred from the informationprocessing apparatus 2 to the flash memory 131 by the serial or paralleltransfer, and data stored in the flash memory 131 is transferred to theinformation processing apparatus 2.

The adapter device 3 having been described in the foregoing is capableof data transfer by two modes of communication; serial transfer andparallel transfer. Namely, it can send data to, and receive data from, aconventional IC card by the serial transfer, and also can rapidly senddata to, and receive data from, a parallel transfer type IC card 4 bythe parallel transfer. When the adapter device 3 has a memory IC card 4set therein, the information processing apparatus 2 can access to thememory IC card 4 by a logical address and make a rapid addressing sincethe IC card 4 includes the address converter 114.

In the foregoing, the present invention has been described in detailconcerning certain preferred embodiments thereof as examples withreference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understoodby those ordinarily skilled in the art that the present invention is notlimited to the embodiments but can be modified in various manners,constructed alternatively or embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit thereof as set forth and defined inthe appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As having been described in the foregoing, the adapter device accordingto the present invention includes a body in which an IC card isinstallable, and has the cover member installed to one main side of thedevice body to be openable. The main side of the device body can beopened or closed by operating the cover member according to the type ofan IC card set in the IC card receptacle. Thus the adapter device isusable easily and conveniently with an IC card of any type set in the ICcard receptacle.

1. (canceled)
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 5. An adapterdevice comprising: a device body having an IC card insertion slot formedat a side thereof and a receptacle formed contiguously to the IC cardinsertion slot and into which an IC card is set; a cover member providedover one main side of the device body slidably on the device body; aninterface for data transfer between an IC card set in the IC cardreceptacle and a host apparatus; and a support member to support thedevice body by a hinge mechanism at a side opposite to the IC cardinsertion slot to be pivotable in relation to a surface on which thedevice body is installed.
 6. The device as set forth in claim 5, whereinthe cover member is installed slidably on the device body with guiderails provided on the cover member being engaged on guide rails providedon lateral sides of the device body generally parallel to the directionof inserting the IC card and opposite to each other.
 7. The device asset forth in claim 5, wherein: the IC card has a fingerprint detectorprovided on one main side thereof; and the device body has providedtherein an opening through which the fingerprint detector on the IC cardset in the IC card receptacle is exposed to outside.
 8. The device asset forth in claim 5, wherein the support member has first and secondsupport leg portions.
 9. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein thehinge mechanism includes: a pivoting support member having a pivotingsupport portion installed on the device body to project from the latter;and a pivot member installed to the support member and supportedpivotably in relation to the pivoting support portion.
 10. The device asset forth in claim 5, wherein the interface has a jack conforming to theUSB (universal serial bus) standard.
 11. The device as set forth inclaim 5, wherein the cover member is transparent or translucent.
 12. Thedevice as set forth in claim 5, wherein the IC card receptacle hasprovided therein a lid forced in a direction of closing a connectorwhich is to be electrically connected to a terminal block of the ICcard.
 13. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the IC card has aserial interface and/or a parallel interface.
 14. The device as setforth in claim 5, wherein: the device body includes an addressconversion block to convert a logical address in data processing into aphysical address in a memory when an IC card with a memory is set in theIC card receptacle; and the address conversion block converts, when thehost apparatus accesses the memory in the IC card by a logical address,the logical address into a physical address for access to the memory inthe IC card.
 15. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the IC cardreceptacle has provided therein an ejecting mechanism which ejects an ICcard to outside the IC card receptacle through the IC card insertionslot when the IC card is pressed in the direction of inserting the ICcard.
 16. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein there is providedon one main side of the device body a pilot lamp which lights duringoperation of the device.